“The Yak”—A remarkable animal living in a harsh environment: An overview of its feeding, growth, production performance, and contribution to food security

Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Feb. 2, 2023

Yaks play an important role in the livelihood of people Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and contribute significantly to economy different countries region. are commonly raised at high altitudes ~ 3,000–5,400 m above sea level. They provide many products, namely, milk, meat, fur, manure, as well social status, etc. were domesticated from wild yaks present remote mountains QTP In summer season, when a higher quantity pasture is available mountain region, use their long tongues graze spend 30–80% daytime grazing. The remaining time spent walking, resting, doing other activities. winter due heavy snowfall mountains, scarce, face feeding issues scarcity. Hence, normal body weight affected growth retardation occurs, which consequently affects production performance. this review article, we have discussed domestication yaks, pattern difference between growth-retarded also microbial community influences. addition, blood biochemistry, compositions yaks' milk reproduction reported herein. Evidence suggested that daily life living on QTP, who consume manure for fuel land fertilizer purposes, animals transportation. Yaks' close association with people's well-being has been significant.

Language: Английский

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Linkages between rumen microbiome, host, and environment in yaks, and their implications for understanding animal production and management

Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: Jan. 29, 2024

Livestock on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is of great importance for livelihood local inhabitants and ecosystem plateau. The natural, harsh environment has shaped adaptations livestock while providing them with requisite eco-services. Over time, unique genes metabolic mechanisms (nitrogen energy) have evolved which enabled yaks to adapt morphologically physiologically Plateau. rumen microbiota also co-evolved host contributed host's adaptation environment. Understanding complex linkages between microbiota, host, essential optimizing function meet growing demands animal products minimizing environmental impact ruminant production. However, little known about host-rumen microbiome-environment how they ultimately benefit in adapting In this review, we pieced together yak's by summarizing natural selection nutritional features integrating key aspects its microbiome efficiency homeostasis. We found that homeostasis results higher feed digestibility, microbial protein production, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, lower methane emissions when compared other low-altitude ruminants. forms a multi-synergistic relationship among services, their communities, genes, enzymes. proteins SCFAs act as precursors directly milk composition or adipose accumulation, improving meat quality, resulting fat content yak percentage abundant acids dairy cow cattle. hierarchical interactions climate, forage, microorganisms, reshaped animal's survival performance. an interactive understanding was established. these concepts valuable agriculture our It contributes better ecology evolution anaerobic ecosystems host-environment improve

Language: Английский

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Annual cycle variations in the gut microbiota of migratory black-necked cranes

Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: Feb. 7, 2025

Migratory birds exhibit unique annual cycles that complicate their gut microbiota. However, the dynamics of microbiota in migratory remain unclear, hindering our understanding environmental adaptation. Here, we collected fecal samples from black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) across four seasons at breeding grounds and used wintering ground data databases to characterize microbial compositions throughout year. The results showed was clustered by season (Bray-Curtis: R 2 = 0.348, p < 0.001; UniFrac: 0.352, 0.001). And summer exhibited higher alpha (Simpson Shannon), beta diversity (Bray-Curtis UniFrac) more diverse functions compared other seasons. Furthermore, summer, several balanced relative abundances family level, whereas Lactobacillaceae dominated during Thirty-six ASVs were identified random forest analysis distinguish distinct Despite having greater diversity, had a simpler network structure than (fewer edges nodes). dispersal limitation processes also significantly influenced community assembly. Overall, crane undergoes dynamic adjustments adapt seasonal changes, which may be associated with variations diet These enhance wild support further research on cranes.

Language: Английский

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Near-infrared spectroscopy assisted by random forest for predicting the physicochemical indicators of yak milk powder

Food Chemistry, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 478, P. 143555 - 143555

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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The HIF-1α/EGF/EGFR Signaling Pathway Facilitates the Proliferation of Yak Alveolar Type II Epithelial Cells in Hypoxic Conditions

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 25(3), P. 1442 - 1442

Published: Jan. 24, 2024

The yak is a unique creature that thrives in low-oxygen environments, showcasing its adaptability to high-altitude settings with limited oxygen availability due respiratory system. However, the impact of hypoxia on alveolar type II (AT2) epithelial cell proliferation yaks remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated effects different altitudes 6-month-old and found an increase septa thickness AT2 count environment characterized by hypoxia. This was accompanied elevated levels hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. Additionally, observed significant rise Ki67-positive cells apoptotic lung among inhabiting higher altitudes. Our vitro experiments demonstrated exposure activated HIF-1α, EGF, EGFR expression leading increased rates cells. Under normal conditions, activation HIF-1α enhanced EGF/EGFR expressions which subsequently stimulated proliferation. Furthermore, under normoxic conditions further promoted while simultaneously suppressing apoptosis. Conversely, inhibition hypoxic had contrasting effects. summary, triggers via facilitated HIF-1α/EGF/EGFR signaling cascade.

Language: Английский

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A comparison of average daily gain, apparent digestibilities, energy balance, rumen fermentation parameters, and serum metabolites between yaks (Bos grunniens) and Qaidam cattle (Bos taurus) consuming diets differing in energy level

Animal nutrition, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12, P. 77 - 86

Published: Sept. 5, 2022

Yaks (Bos grunniens), indigenous to the harsh Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, are well adapted severe conditions, and graze natural pasture without supplements all year round. Qaidam cattle taurus), introduced Plateau 1,700 years ago, raised at a lower altitude than yaks, provided with shelter night offered in winter. Based on their different backgrounds, we hypothesized that yaks have energy requirements for maintenance cattle. To test this hypothesis, measured average daily gain (ADG), apparent digestibilities, balance, rumen fermentation parameters, serum metabolites growing diets differing metabolizable (ME) levels (6.62, 8.02, 9.42 10.80 MJ/kg), but same crude protein concentration. Six castrated (155 ± 5.8 kg) 6 (154 8.0 kg), 2.5 old, were used 2 concurrent 4 × Latin square designs. Neutral acid detergent fiber digestibilities greater (P < 0.05) cattle, decreased linearly increasing dietary level; whereas, of dry matter, organic ether extract increased level. The ADG was 0.001) levels. From regressions ME intake, estimated requirement (0.43 vs. 0.57 MJ/kg BW0.75). ratios digestible (DE):gross ME:DE higher Ruminal pH 0.05), whereas concentrations total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) ammonia 0.01) level, Concentrations ruminal acetate iso-VFAs propionate cattle; 0.001), butyrate Serum β-hydroxybutyrate (interaction, P fed MJ/kg, non-esterified 6.62 8.02 MJ/kg. leptin growth hormone insulin Our hypothesis supported. This confers an advantage over consuming low during long winter Plateau.

Language: Английский

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Altitude‐dependent metabolite biomarkers reveal the mechanism of plateau pika adaptation to high altitudes

Integrative Zoology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 18(6), P. 1041 - 1055

Published: March 7, 2023

The harsh environment in the Tibetan plateau, highest place world, poses thermoregulatory challenges and hypoxic stress to animals. impacts of plateau on animal physiology reproduction include external factors such as strong ultraviolet radiation low temperature, internal metabolites gut microbiota. However, it remains unclear how pika adapt high altitudes through combination serum To this end, we captured 24 wild pikas at 3400, 3600, or 3800 m a.s.l. a alpine grassland. Using machine learning algorithms (random forest), identified five biomarkers indicative altitudes, that is, dihydrotestosterone, homo-l-arginine, alpha-ketoglutaric-acid, serotonin, threonine, which were related body weight, reproduction, energy metabolism pika. Those metabolic positively correlated with Lachnospiraceae_ Agathobacter, Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae_Prevotella, suggesting close relationship between By identifying microbiota analysis, reveal mechanisms adaptation

Language: Английский

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Yaks Are Dependent on Gut Microbiota for Survival in the Environment of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Microorganisms, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(6), P. 1122 - 1122

Published: May 31, 2024

The yak (Poephagus grunniens) has evolved unique adaptations to survive the harsh environment of Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, while their gut microorganisms play a crucial role in maintaining health animal. Gut microbes spread through animal population not only by horizontal transmission but also vertically, which enhances microbial stability and inheritance between generations population. Homogenization different species occurs same habitat, promoting interspecies coexistence. Using as model animal, this paper discusses adaptive strategies under extreme environments, how circulate throughout Tibetan Plateau system, affects other plateau animals such pikas, can have profound impact on people. By examining relationships yaks microbiota, review offers new insights into adaptation ecological niche plateau.

Language: Английский

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Yaks Are Dependent on Gut Microbiota for Survival in the Environment of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Published: May 14, 2024

The yak (Poephagus grunniens) has evolved unique adaptations to survive the harsh environment of Tibetan Plateau, while their gut microorganisms play a crucial role in maintaining health animal. Gut microbes spread through animal population not only by horizontal transmission but also vertically, which enhances microbial stability and inheritance between generations population. Homogenization different species occurs same habitat enhancing interspecies coexistence. Using as model animal, this paper reviews adaptive strategies under extreme environments how circulate throughout Plateau system, affects other plateau animals such pikas, can have profound impact on people. By examining relationships yaks microbes, review provides new perspectives understanding ecosystem.

Language: Английский

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Tibetan terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems collapsed with cryosphere loss inferred from sedimentary ancient metagenomics

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(21)

Published: May 23, 2024

Glacier and permafrost shrinkage land-use intensification threaten mountain wildlife affect nature conservation strategies. Here, we present paleometagenomic records of terrestrial aquatic taxa from the southeastern Tibetan Plateau covering last 18,000 years to help understand complex alpine ecosystem dynamics. We infer that steppe-meadow became woodland at 14 ka (cal BP) controlled by cryosphere loss, further driving a herbivore change wild yak deer. These findings weaken hypothesis top-down control large herbivores in ecosystem. find turnover communities ka, transitioning glacier-related (blue-green) algae abundant nonglacier-preferring picocyanobacteria, macrophytes, fish, otters. There is no evidence for substantial effects livestock herding either Using network analysis, assess stress-gradient reveal root hemiparasitic cushion plants are keystone taxa. With ongoing protection their habitats likely be benefit on Plateau.

Language: Английский

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